Electric contact clip



July 1, 1930. E. P. SEGH ERS ELECTRIC CONTACIKCLIP Filed Oct. 16, 1922 Avg/V70 Patented July 1, 1930 UNITEDSTA PATENT QFFICZE EMIEL P. SEG HERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ELECTRIC"COI\TTACT m 1 Application filed October 16,

, the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of clip embodying the present invention, parts be in broken awa p Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the device in F igi 1. 1

Fig-3'is'a section on line:33of Fig. 1. I Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View of the device shown in Fig. 1 as applied to a screw or rod. Fig.1 5 isa View similar to Fig. 1, showing a, somewhat modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Many kindsof electrical construction and operation. require a conveniently operated shown means for providing electrical contact between a conductor and some form of terminal member. Spring clips have been heretoforeused for this purpose, but 111 the forms previously employed ditficulty has been experienced insecuring convenient and efficient connection between the conductor and clip andlini connecting the clip tQSOIflQfOIfmS of terminals. The presentjinvention provides improved means for securing these results.

The numeral 10; designates an electr cal conductor such as an nsulat oncover'ed WIFE.-

Thisfconductoris secured to one of the jaws 11 of a'spring clip, the opposite jaw 12; of

whicliis pivotally connected to the jaw ll'bymeans of ears 1 3 and a pivot pin ll. A:he1i'-,

cal spring 15 surrounds the pin 14, one end or the spring bearing against the finger piece 16 of the jaw 12. The jaw 11 is" provided with a -rearwardly e kten'ding shank portion 17, to which the conductor 10-isfsecured and which provides a finger. piece. for that jaw, Theshank 17 is provided, with inwardly ibent 1 sidepor-tions 18, which form a channel for receiving-the ndot hei nd c r- 'Qne: -en.d:of.

1922: Serial no. 594,744.

the spring .15 is shaped to form aneye 19 to I which a tongue 20 is pivotallyconnecte'd by means of airivet 21. Thisrivet: permits lat-j eral movement of the tongue 20, but holds the spring and tongue against relative move ment in avertical direction as v ewed in Fig. 2. The I'.Sll16IlvC-y"Of the spring 15 presses the tongue 20 into the channel formed by the members l'? and 18' so that the conductor 10 is resiliently pressed against thebottom, of the channel. and-thus held" in place, at the, same time forming electrical contact with theclip. The tongue 20 maybe made of a pieceot Wire bent upon itself, the parts being solderedor otherwise securedto onetanother where they come into contact. The free end of the wire may be bent downwardly to provide a point.

22around which the conductor '10 is looped toprevent its being withdrawn from the channel 17. The tongue 23 maybe struck inwardly from the jaw llto form a further anchorage for the conductor 10 ifitis found desirable.

For connecting heavy conductors it: .is sometimes desirable to provide a positive clainp- 'for pressing the tongue 20 against the conductor in addition to the force of the spring 15. This maybe done by extending an ear 24: upwardly'from'the side 18 for supporting the screw 25 in positionto bear upon the top of the tongue 20, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Screws 26 may also be threaded through the sideofthe channel shank 27 to clamp the conductor lOQfroin opposite sides. where this-is found desirable. The end; of the channel shank 17 may be closed by a web .28; having an opening therethrough as shown at 29, Fig.2, for the passageof the 12; These openings are provided, with outmadly, struckicollars 31v which are slightly;

out of alignment when the jawsare closed, but which are brought into alignment when the jaws are open, as shown in Fig. 4. To connect the-device with a cylindrical terminal 32 the jaws are opened as shown in that figure and the openings 80 are slipped over the cylindrical member. WVhen the jaws are released they will tend to return to their closed position and the collars 31 will bind closely against the terminal with a wedging movement that will provide a firm connection and good electrical contact. Asv shown in Fig. 1, the ears 13 may be held together by hollow rivets 33 through which the pivot pin 14 passes. The rivets 33 will retain the jaws in'as'sembled relation irrespective of pin 14:. Thisfis of material assistance in assembling the parts, since it is a diiiicult matter to hold the openings in the ears 13 in alignment and j the coiled spring 15 so compressed as to permit insertion of the rivet 1 1. Where hollow rivets33 are used, however, this operation is rendered less difficult, as the jaws are' first secured in proper relation and the spring 15 is the only part-that then requires attention at the same time that the pin 14: is inserted. g

In the form of the'invention shown in ingthe conductor 10 in place. Ihis arrangement will usually be found satisfactory where light conductors are employed. The

conductor 10 in this figure is shown looped about the tongue 23. and crossed to provide a second loop through which the pin 22 extends. mit the pin '22'to extend entirely through the sheet metal. In this connection the pivot 21 is also omitted. The purpose of the pivot 21 is to permit lateral movement of the tongue 20 to uncover the channel 17 when it is desired to remove the conductor 10.

It will be seen that this removal may be readily accomplished by lifting on the loop 34 at the end of the tongueuntil it is free of the sidewalls 18"and then swinging the thus holding the conductor securely without the use of: solder-or other attaching .mate

rial whichisdiiiicult to-apply and requires special equipment.

lhesame operation may be performed with the form of clip shown in Figs. 5 and 6,

the lateral movement of the tongue 20 being permitted by the resiliency of the wire from which the spring 15 is formed. i

- For a very heavy construction the pivot 21 makesa more convenient arrangement, but

The shank 17 is perforated to perthe lower jaw to the battery terminal and leave the upper jaw free to be operated to grasp a loose conductor. A similar result can be secured by throwing the extension 20 of the spring to one side and removing the conductor 10 from its socket. The opening 29 may then be placed over the battery terminal and the nut screwed down upon the web 28, the nut being arranged in the socket for the conductor 10. This may be 111016 readily effected by placing'the nut within the socket and clamping it in position by the screws 25 and 26 after which the entire devicemay be screwed to the battery terminal.

In place of using a nut in the socket the bat tery terminal may be passed through the opening 29 and clamped in place by the threaded members 25 and 26.

I-claim: 1. An electrical connector comprising a pair of spring-pressedjaws for engaging a terminal member, and resilient means for holdinga conductorin electrical engagement with one of said jaws independently of the other jaw. I I

'2. An electrical connector comprising a pair of pivot jaws, a spring for closing said jaws, and means actuated by said closing spring for holding a conductor in electrical engagement with one of said jaws independently of the other jaw.

3fAn electrical. connector comprising a I pair of pivot jaws, a spring for closing said jaws, a socket member for receiving a conduetor, and a device for holding said conductor in said socket member, said device being resiliently actuated by said closing spring.

4.'An electrical connector comprising a pair of pivot jaws, a pivot'pin for said jaws,

aicoiledspring surrounding said pin and having extending ends for engaging said jaws to yieldinglyclosesaid jaws, a socket member formed on one of said jaws for receiving an electrical conductor, and means. connected with one of the extended ends of said spring for pressing'said conductor in said socket member. 1 g a 5. An electrical connector comprising a pair of pivotally connected j aws, a spring for closing said jaws, extensions formed on said jaws by which said jaws may be opened, one of said extensions having a channel'therein forreeeiving an electrical conductor, and means connectedwith'said spring and actuclamp said conductor to said attaching device ated thereby for said channel.

6. An electrical connector comprising an attaching device having a projection thereon for receiving the looped end of a conductor, and a spring for engaging said conductor to pressing said conductor into for providing electrical contact and for retaining said conductor on said projection.

7. An electrical connector comprising an attaching means having a socket for receivingan electrical conductor, a spring tongue for pressing said conductor in said socket, and a projection for receiving a loopin said conductor to resist longitudinal strain on said conductor.

8! An electrical connector comprising an attaching device having a pro ecting finger thereon for receiving the looped end of a conductor, and a spring member for engaging said conductor, said spring having a point thereon for entering a loop in saidconductor.v

extending longitudinally of said groovelfor retaining said conductor in said groove, said 7 tongue being movable laterally to open said groove and permit removal of said conductor therefrom.

12. An electrical connector comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, a spring for closing said jaws, one of said jaws having a groove therein for recelvlng a conductor, and

a tongue connected with said spring for pressing said conductor in said groove, said tongue being movable laterally relative to said groove to permit removal of said'conductor.

13. An electrical connector comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaws, a spring for closing said j aws, one of said jaws having a groove for receiving a conductor, an

anchor finger for engaging a loop on said conductor to hold said conductor against longitudinal strain, and a tongue actuated by said spring 'for pressing said conductorin said groove. i I I e 14. An electrical connector comprising a contact member, and means for connecting a conductor to said contact member comprising conductor and a screw for holding said device in contact with said conductor.

15. In an, electrical connector, a spring member for engaging a conductor, and a clamp for holding said member-against said conductor.

16. In an electrical connector, a spring member for engaging a conductor, a clamp for holding said member against said conductor, and a supplemental screw in said connector for engaging said conductor.,

17. In an electrical connector, a socket member for receiving a conductor, a spring member for holding said conductor in said socket member, and a screw for pressing said spring member against said conductor.

18. An electrical connector having a channel for receiving a conductor, a spring tongue iorholding said conductor in said channel, an

anchor finger for engaging a loop in said conductor, and asupplemental threaded device for holding said conductor.

19. electrical connector having a channel for receiving a conductor, an anchor finger for; engaging a loop in said conductor, a

spring tongue for resiliently pressing said conductor in said channel, a screw for clamping said spring against said conductor, and

supplemental screws for engaging opposite portions'of said conductor at the sides of said channel. a

20. An electrical connector comprising a pair-of pivotally connected jaws, a spring for holding said'jaws in closed relation, one of said jaws having a channel therein for receiving a conductor, an extension on said spring movable into and out of position to,

engage a conductor insaid channel, an an chor device for holdlng said conductor against longitudinal movement in said channel, a screw clamp for holding said extension against said conductor, and supplemen tal screws extending through the sides of said channel for engaging said conductor.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 14th day of October, A. D. 1922.

EMIEL P. SEGI-IERS.

a spring-pressed device for engaging said M 

